An Apache appeared in court yesterday charged with keeping dead badger paws and bird wings.

Mangas Colorados, 60, turned up wearing a full native outfit complete with tassles.

He is accused of storing the animal parts at his home. But he denied offences under the Protection of Badgers Act and the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Anne Griffiths, defending, said: “My client is part of a native American Apache tribe. His belief means he travels abroad and lives in these communities in summer.

“My client will say that the badger paws were, in effect, road kill, and the wings were found in a field. Due to the complex nature of the evidence we would submit there is a need for expert defence witnesses.”

Colorados, who wore his long hair under a bandana, made his brief appearance before district judge Vivian Manning-Davies at Swansea magistrates court. It was heard it would take some time to prepare the evidence in the case.

Julie Sullivan, prosecuting, said: “This is a rather unusual case to be dealing with. It is a complex case for the Crown Prosecution Service and we will need to get expert evidence from witnesses, some of whom are abroad.”